#GastoniaNC – Page 2 – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2026 Monday Portrait #10 —09 March

Rhode Island Red

Bird of the Week CLVIII

Our neighbours have several breeds of chickens in their backyard. They don’t always stay in his yard, sometimes they come a visiting. He has two or three Rhode Island Reds like this one and they tend to fly short distances until they are able to “jump” over the wire fence. When they do they are more than likely going to be caught by Coleman.

The Rhode Island Red is a popular, hardy American chicken breed (a friend in Texas as some as well). They are known to be excellent producers of large brown eggs (approximately 6-7 eggs per week). Even though most individual chicken owners raise them for their eggs, they are also an excellent source of high-quality meat. It is said that the Rhode Island Red Roosters could be aggressive and not ideal for small children or neighbours. (I think our neighbours Rhode Island Reds must be hens, since hens are more friendly and they haven’t pecked Coleman yet.)

Monday Portrait-2026.3.09

Bird of the Week CLVIII

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto

Location: Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Keep your eyes open for interesting photography opportunities. They maybe lurking about in the least likely places. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Cell Pic Sunday: March 08

Coleman’s Catch

of the Day

*Coleman*
*and the neighbours*
*Silkie Chicken*

Our new neighbours have chickens in their backyard. Sometimes they fly over the fence and wander around our backyard. While visiting with the neighbours, Coleman chased the chickens in between jumping on their trampoline. As you can see after several tries, Coleman caught one of the chickens. This one is a Silkie chicken; they are known for their fluffy, silk-like plumage. They are flightless, but they sure can run when being chased by a little boy.

Click on image to enlarge.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2026.03.08

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Plus

Location: Neighbours Backyard; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Be Peaceful, Mindful, and Kind. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Where in the Playground is Coleman?

For Debbie’s

Six Word Saturday

We visited a new playground for Coleman … The T. Jeffers Center in Gastonia 1 mile away (3 minutes by car or 21 minutes walking) away from our new home.

He ran around from here, there, and yonder so quickly it was hard to keep visual tracking of his whereabouts.

*Playground at T. Jeffers Center & Park*

Where in the Playground is Coleman? Can you spot him? If so, let me know where you see him.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.03.07

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The T. Jeffers Center and Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy a few adventures. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way (Your Choice)

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). This week I have chosen Any Which Way (Your Choice) for this week’s theme. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome. For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my entries …

Entering the Carolina Speedway …

This next grouping of Which Ways I am combining with Mama Cormier’s Thursday Trios.

In between the regular Monster Truck Wars competitions the event held a Power Wheels Truck race featuring the littlest and youngest “Monster Truck” drivers. These images are from the Power Wheels Truck race.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Geriatri’x’ FOTOGALLERY’s Steps In Black And White

Suzette’s Dirt Road For Deb’s Any Which Way— CWWC

In Primo Piano’s Malibu

Cath’s Camera’s Which Way… {Getting There in Monochrome}

Dawn’s Winter on a Gravel Road at Sunrise bnw

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)-Any Which Way on Dirt Trails, pathways, or stairs in Monochrome/(Black & White)

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.03.06

For further information about the Which Way Challenge check out the home page here.

Camera: 1-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; 5-12) Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EG-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Carolina Speedway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

**Note: For Friday, 2026 March 13 the theme for the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: will be Any Which Way on a Nature Trail (Dirt or Paved).**

2026 Thursday Doors: March 05

Edward D. Sadler Jr.

Elementary School

Monday was Coleman’s first day at his new school, Edward D. Sadler Jr Elementary. The school is named after Dr. Edward DeWitt Sadler, Jr. (1947–2018). He served as the first African-American Superintendent of Gaston County schools. He believed ‘All Children Can Learn.’

The school’s mascot is the Gators. The school celebrates diversity through their international teachers, who share their cultures and languages with students.

This year the entire school is reading ‘The One and Only Ivan’ by Katherine Applegate. The school is encouraging families to read and discuss the book together as a family. The students will also discuss in their classrooms at school. Sadler Elementary encourages students to dream big, work hard, and celebrate what makes them unique.

After only a couple of days of Coleman being at the new school, we can already see an improvement in his attitude towards school, the encouragement from his teachers, and his confidence for learning has increased.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.03.04

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Edward D. Sadler Jr. Elementary School; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a great rest of your week and a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness: 2026 March 04

Spying the

New Neighbourhood

Looking this Way …

And that Way …

Facing our “new” home …

Looking around the New Neighbourhood …

***Monochrome Madness***
***Around Gastonia Neighbourhood***

Waiting for the school bus with Coleman …

***Coleman Waiting***
***for the School Bus***

Happy Hump Day! Click on each image to enlarge.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness-2026.03.04

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion & Telephoto

Location: Our “New” Home; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week and weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026.03.04

Half Staff

Click on image to enlarge.

Wordless Wednesday

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Edward D. Sadler Jr. Elementary School; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific rest of your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The Flower #Hour #20— 2026 March 03

In a Vase on Monday —-

Yellow Anastasia Spider Mums

In a Vase on Monday (a day late in posting)

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #20-2026.03.03

Macro Monday (MM)

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Inside Chick-Fil-A; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the Flowers. Bring a Ray of Sunshine’s Beauty inside. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Monday Portrait #9 —02 March

Preston Collins

& Shark Attack

On Saturday, we went to the Carolina Speedway to watch the Monster Truck Wars, America’s Wildest Monster Truck Show. Coleman didn’t know he was going until we arrived at the dirt track that he was going to be able to see the Monster trucks live and in person instead of on the television. (He loves Monster trucks and Dinosaurs, so this was a big win for him.)

After the show Coleman was able to meet a couple of the Monster Truck drivers; including Preston Collins, the driver for Shark Attack. Preston Collins, 24 years old, is a monster truck driver out of Liberty City, Texas. He has driven several monster trucks which include:

Velociraptor (2025)
Equalizer (3023-2025)
Outlaw (Dallas 2024)
Shark Attack (Various times including Saturday, February 28, 2026)
Monster Mutt Rottweiler (Edmonton 2025)
ThunderROARus (Las Vegas-Los Angeles 2025)
Jurassic Attack (2025-present)

His Monster Truck driving career began in January of 2023. He currently co-drives Shark Attack with Kayley Engstrom. They share full duties of driving Shark Attack regular version. Shark Attack is a custom Shark monster truck owned by Michael Harper.

Now that you’ve seen Preston Collins and Coleman and found out a little bit about him, let’s show you some of his actions while driving Shark Attack.

Shark Attack driven
by Preston Collins
Monster Truck Wars
Gastonia, North Carolina
February 28, 2026

You may have noticed all the smoke coming out of Shark Attack, he was allowed to show off his freestyle skills before the final face-off. Shark Attack was loosing momentum and engine power. By the end of his run his engine blew and he was not able to continue to compete in the final round of the competition. (Coleman thoroughly enjoyed watching all the monster trucks, but was enthralled with Shark Attacks actions, jumps, and spin-wheeling.)

Monday Portrait-2026.03.02

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Carolina Speedway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Enjoy the thrill. Get Outdoors and have some adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Last on the Card – February 28th

Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.

Here are The rules:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here are my contributions …

From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):

*T-Rex Driver*
*Monster Jam 2026*
*Carolina Speedway*

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

*Coleman not to thrilled*
*to meet his*
*Grand Uncle Larry*
*(aka my brother)*
*at CLT Airport*

Click on each image to enlarge.

#Brian’s Last on the Card

God Bless. Enjoy your Winter/Summer days. Stay safe. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Window – 2026 March 2nd

Kitty by a Window
– 2 —
AI creation by PR

Carolina Speedway

We stood to the left and below, if facing the press box, to watch The 2026 Monster Jam Wars.

Monday Window-2026.03.02

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Carolina Speedway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Cell Pic Sunday: March 01

Carolina Speedway

Click on image to enlarge.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2026.03.01

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: Carolina Speedway; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. Be Peaceful, Mindful, and Kind. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Moving — Looking Forward to New Adventures

Today we moved part of our stuff into a “new to us” house across the county approximately 9.1 miles away from where we were living for the past couple of years.

This means a new school for Coleman, a need to find a new church home, and new adventures roaming the neighbourhood and surrounding areas. Also new neighbours, new friendships to build.

*Our (Coleman & mine)*
*Entertainment for the Evening*

However, with packing and moving tensions between family heightens and misunderstandings occur. Even with all that, Coleman and I are looking forward to new adventures the new neighbourhood and city can bring us.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.02.28

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: “New Home”; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy a few adventures. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The Flower #Hour #19— 2026 February 24

Narcissus pseudonarcissus

For the Lenten Season which began on February 18th, I decided what better selection than the Narcissus pseudonarcissus to post. The Narcissus pseudonarcissus, is commonly referred to as the wild daffodil or Lent Lily.

I captured this Lent Lily with my iPhone in February of 2024 (during the Lenten season) at The Schiele Museum of Natural History. It was growing in The Farm area near one of the historic cabins.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #19-2026.02.24

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to observe the Flowers and nature’s beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Window – 2026 February 23

U.S. Postal Service

*United States Postal Service*
*Gastonia, NC*

Coming out of the U.S. Postal Service building what caught my eye was not the building itself, but what was displayed in the corner of the landscaping in front of the building.

*U. S. Flag (not in image)*
*and a POW * MIA Flag*

From my sidewalk view … left of the flagpole stood a military cannon. [I didn’t expect to see the cannon on display at the post office.]

*Military style cannon*
*U.S. Postal Service property*
*Gastonia, NC*

Monday Window-2026.02.23

See Monday Window posts in Reader

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: United States Postal Service; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Cell Pic Sunday

Parasaurolophus

The Parasaurolophus is a North American dinosaur which could walk on either two or all four legs. It grazed on plants like pine needles and leaves. Its name means “lizard crest”, (A Crest is a hollow, bony tube extending from the back of its skull.) it uses its crest for producing low, trumpet-like sounds to communicate, attract mates, or warn of danger.

Click on image to enlarge.

John’s Cell Pic Sunday-2026.02.22

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Schiele’s Nature Trail Benches (Outdoor Seating)

No matter if you’re hiking the Nature Trail, having a group meeting, or just need a short break; there’s a bench for you to Pull Up a Seat and rest a spell.

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 8

Jude’s Bench Challenge

Mama Cormier’s Thursday Trios-2026.02.21

Location: Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Up, Down, and Balance the Teeter-Totter

Coleman’s Teeter-Totter Time

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.02.21

Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) Saturday-Playful

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Telephoto

Location: Playscape; Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge 2026: CWWC: Any Indoor Pathway, Hallway, Corridor, Or Stairway. [02.20.2026]

Welcome back to the Which Way Challenge. This Week’s Which Way Challenge are theme is Any Indoor Pathway, Hallway, Corridor, Or Stairway. They can be Any Which Way on any Pathways, Hallways, Stairway, or Corridor as long as your Which Ways are clearly visible. As always signs are welcome anytime.

Walking the Hallways and Corridors

inside the

Schiele Museum of Natural History …

Here are my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to all who have supported and contributed to the Which Way Challenge this past week or at any time. Be sure to check out other Which Ways by clicking on the links below.

Cath’s Which Way… {Caught Unawares}

Brian’s I saw them (hard at work)

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Caminito Del Rey

Suzette’s For Deb’s Any Which Way-CWWC – People

Dawn’s Which Way: Way Walking Along the Canal

In Primo Piano’s Arch

For further information about the Which Way Challenge check out the home page here.

Cameras: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Be Friendly. Be Courteous. Be Kind. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Note: Next week (Friday 02.28.2026) our theme be Any Which Way on Dirt Trails, pathways, or stairs in Monochrome.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026.02.18

Click on image to enlarge.

Wordless Wednesday

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific rest of your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Monday Portrait #7 —16 February

Crotalus adamanteus

While visiting The Schiele Museum of Natural History, we paused to check out the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake .

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is also known by Crotalus adamanteus (its Binomial name).

It is a species of pit vipers belonging to the family Viperidae. They are indigenous to the Southeastern United States of America.

It is the largest rattlesnake species and one of the more heavily venomous snakes in the Americas.

This Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is safely encased behind a large glass window and is accessible by the staff. The staff do occasionally bring out various snakes and other animals for educational purposes.

Click Image to Enlarge.

Monday Portrait

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location:The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Tree Seating for Two (in Playscape)

Sophia Ruthann

and her Mom

My daughter has occasionally sat or hung from a tree since she was a teenager. When visiting the Playscape at The Schiele Museum of Natural History a she decided to try to sit in the tree with Sophia.

Here are a few of her Pulling Up a Seat in a tree …

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 7

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.02.14

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Playscape; Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Thursday Doors: February 12

Doors within

the Museum

Tuesday was another free night at the Museum. Free nights are on the second (2nd) Tuesday each month curtesy of Duke Energy. I captured these doors with my iPhone as we walked through the museum.

We walked through every hallway and corridor viewing everything even though we’ve been there several times before.

Coleman zooms around every corner and nook and cranny faster than I can possibly imagine catching up with him.

Soaring past this doorway and that doorway all the way to the final door to exit the museum.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.02.12

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fascinating weekend full of exciting adventures. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026.02.11

Icy Pond

*The Pond*
*on the Nature Trail*
*at The Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History*

Click on image to enlarge.

Wordless Wednesday

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Fusion

Location: The Pond; Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific rest of your week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Monday Portrait #6 —09 February

Didelphis virginiana

The Didelphis virginiana, also known as the Virginia opossum, the North American opossum, and is commonly referred to as the possum.

The Opossum is a solitary nocturnal marsupial typically about the size of a domestic cat. They frequently inhabit areas near food sources like trash cans, compost piles, pet food, and gardens. (If you live in a home with an unused dryer vent opening it’d be wise to close it off, possums will and have come into homes via those vents.)

Not only have I seen Opossums come into a home we lived in, we have also known them to eat pet food we have set outside for cats and dogs.

Have you encountered Opossums in your areas? This one is housed at The Schiele Museum of Natural History to help educate visitors about the habits and behaviors.

Click Image to Enlarge.

Monday Portrait

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250 lens

Location:The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

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Coleman’s Catch

of the Day

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For Debbie’s

Six Word Saturday

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Edward D. Sadler Jr.

Elementary School

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Spying the

New Neighbourhood

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Half Staff

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Preston Collins

& Shark Attack

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Carolina Speedway

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Carolina Speedway

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Narcissus pseudonarcissus

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U.S. Postal Service

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Parasaurolophus

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Doors within

the Museum

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Icy Pond

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Didelphis virginiana

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